March 16, 2006

Coffee that moves houses

Now this is the kind of thing that I love to read. From the comments to a previous post, Ristretto customer Sarah Leigh takes the time to write:

Nancy and Din,

I just had my first cup of Sumatra Mandehling this morning and it was delicious!

I picked up the package Monday (I think it came Saturday, but I wasn't around for the 8-11 AM hours of our small town post office) and the aroma filled the car, and then the kitchen, even after I dutifully put the bags in the cupboard as the Ristretto Roasters instruction sheet advised. This is good, because my house is on the market, and it can only enhance the appeal when prospective buyers come into a house smelling of Din's rich and deep roasted beans.

Can't wait to try the Guatemala Antigua.

Thanks again!

How's that for a new slogan? "You don't need no steekin' muffins. Sell your house with Ristretto Roasters!"

March 01, 2006

Two (shaking, crumb-covered?) thumbs up

Matt Milletto of Viva Barista writes:

Congrats to Ristretto Roasters on a great little retail shop/roasterie! The hard work and true passion for quality coffee shines when you walk in the door. Love the simplicity, love the pastries, the artwork, and most of all the coffees.

Two Thumbs Up!

Thanks, Matt!

February 28, 2006

Order Ristretto Roasters online!

Ristrettocoffeesmall_1You can now order your hand roasted coffee from the Ristretto Roasters website! The inventory will change as the daily roasts do; after you've tasted your java, you can post your own customer comments under the specific beans you enjoyed. Comment early, comment often!

The e-commerce facility and fab new look for the site and this blog are all the handiwork of Ristretto owner Din Johnson's sister, Hillary Johnson. Well done, Hill!

February 27, 2006

Slashfood says Ristretto knows its stuff

Here's another glowing customer review that the Ristretto team was very pleased to read, this time from Slashfood's Stefania Butler

...Ristretto Roasters focuses on what they want to be known for—great espresso (and coffee), and expertly roasted coffee beans. The other day I was in with my two girls having an afternoon cappuccino because they are perfect there and they don't that annoying Portland thing asking if I'd like it "wet" or "dry." There is a way a cappuccino should be made. They know it. Let's leave it at that.

Anyway, as I was just finishing up my coffee and debating on whether I should get another one for the road, the owner came up with a steaming hot cup of Ethiopian Harrar and said, "Try this. I just finished roasting the beans." In a word, the coffee was, "Pow!" I don't think I have had coffee made from beans that were roasted and then ground minutes before drinking. He served it up black (I like my coffee "regular"), but even so, it was full-bodied and very smooth, with a hint of sparkling-acidity. I then bought a pound of coffee to take with me and the bags were warm when they were handed to me.

I can tell you that the Ethiopian Harrar smells amaaaazing, too.

February 26, 2006

"Ristretto Roasters gets it right"

Customer Danielle Centoni reviews Ristretto Roasters at Oregon Live:


RISTRETTO ROASTERS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Just north of the corner of NE42nd and Fremont is Beaumont Village's newest coffee cafe, Ristretto Roasters. Named for a
hotly-debated style of coffee, I must say, Ristretto Roasters gets it right.

Ristretto Roasters is located in the space recently vacated by the Winterborne Restaurant. We've been stopping in for espresso macchiatos, cappuccinos and iced coffees and in a word, the coffee is: amazing. The beans are roasted perfectly for our taste, we like them well-roasted but smooth. The espressi remind us of being in Rome. The decor is hip but inviting. The staff are warm and welcoming to kids. Ristretto Roasters also has [free!] wifi so you can sit and hang out with your laptop. The cafe also features pastries from [Nancy Rommelman, Din's wife]. Check it out!